Photo Courtesy of News Daytona Beach
Florida man Nicholas Gordon faces hate crime charges after having attacked a family of four because they are Black.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Gordon on enhanced charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, child abuse, and carrying a concealed weapon.
According to the sheriff’s office, the victims said someone hopped out of the passenger seat, pulled out a gun, and said, “I will kill you (N-words),” according to the sheriff’s office, CBS 12
reported.The victims said they felt their lives were being endangered and drove away from the intersection and stated that they had no previous confrontation or interaction with the suspect or the car. They believe that the attack was unprovoked.
A surveillance video captured led deputies to the car, a yellow Chevrolet Spark.
Gordon initially said he was out of town and that he didn’t have any weapons with him but later said he had a gun in his car.
Gordon told the officer said he might be aware of why he was stopped and said, “I think I know what it is. It was that black lady that brake-checked me, and then she started trying to follow me.”
Gordon denied being involved in the incident, and after being shown the surveillance video, Gordon admitted to being the passenger in his car.
He claimed the incident started when the victim backed into his car and tried to drive away. However, there was no damage found on Gordon’s car, and there was no police report filed about the crash.
When asked why he was armed during the incident, Gordon said he knew the victims were African American, and from past experiences, he knew African Americans could be violent.
Gordon also admitted the family didn’t make him feel threatened enough to have a gun.
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“This type of behavior will not be tolerated in Volusia County,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “I want everyone to know this Sheriff’s Office will do everything possible to track down and arrest anyone who commits such an abhorrent act of hate in this community.”
Gordon is currently being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail.